After much drama over who really earned the most applause at the recent Commedia del Media stand-up contest amongst Washington journalists, WCP‘s Brooke Hatfield comes out on top.

She was pronounced the winner last Friday night. But judges, former CNNer Jamie McIntyre and Fox News Business’ Rich Edson, weren’t so sure.

So organizers had FishbowlDC host a vote. And the people have spoken: 42 votes for Hatfield. No reason to embarrass WaPo Columnist John Kelly and award-winning documentary film producer and former WAMU anchor Mike Walter with their numbers, but suffice it to say, they too have fans.

Congratulations to Brooke!

If you missed her performance, watch below:

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

1. The way that you have presented the contestants in each video is extraordinarily unfair.  I am sure that you hand selected a piece that had little laughter when it comes to Brooke’s segment.  This will unfairly influence the audience as you frame your post to say that you are unsure of the clear winner due to errant chads hanging loosely in applause.  Well to me it sounds like you are trying to figure out whose segment has louder claps, NOT who is the funnier of the three.

2. Brooke Hatfield is by far the funniest.  Is it because she is a woman that a FOX news reporter decided she wasn’t the CLEAR winner?  I put my vote behind Brooke 100%.  And if she doesn’t win I will be sorely disappointed

Sincerely, Anonymous

Note to Anonymous: All of you dear readers get to weigh in on who was funniest, not just Rich Edson of Fox News Business. We can’t think of anything more fair and balanced than that.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

The official word on why the Commedia crown is still in contention: Upon late-night review of Friday’s performances at the National Press Club, the judges who included former CNN Pentagon correspondent Jamie McIntyre and Fox News Business reporter Rich Edson noticed a few errant chads hanging loosely in the applause. This casts doubt on their decision to award WCP‘s Brooke Hatfield the Commedia crown and title of “DC’s Funniest Journalist.” Others who had the most clapping in the first round of voting include the following performers: Award-winning documentary producer and former anchor at WUSA Mike Walter and WaPo columnist John Kelly.

So the jury is STILL out.

Congress (i.e. the powers that be at Commedia del Media) has mandated a re-vote to commence immediately prior to total government shutdown. We’ve agreed to host the vote.

The finalists are:

1. Mike Walter: Watch here.

2. Brooke Hatfield: Watch here.

3. John Kelly: Watch here.

Watch the videos. Cast your vote. We’ll tally the numbers.You’re on the honor code to vote just once.

Write us at FishbowlDC@mediabistro.com.

Find out other weird details about the evening…

continued…

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

*But will they be funny? Commedia dell Media III tickets are officially on sale. The final lineup is 13 journo competitors. But only one will be named D.C.’s Funniest Journalist. The date: April 1. WaPo cartoonist Nick Galifianakis will host and PBS’s Miles O’Brien will headline the show. Sharpening their wits in prep for the competition, the candidates are: Politico’s Jon Allen and Meredith Shiner, NPR’s Jamila Bey, Nadia Bilbassy of the Middle East Broadcasting Company, NJ‘s Matt Cooper, WCP‘s Brooke Hatfield, WaPo‘s John Kelly, Riz Khan of al-Jazeera English, Bloomberg’s Scott Lanman, Bloomberg TV’s Lizzie O’Leary, Mike Walter of Walter Media, TWT‘s Shaun Waterman and freelancer Tim Young. Last’s year’s winner’s, Military.com’s Jamie McIntyre (who trash talked CNN last year) and FOX Business News’s Rich Edson will head a snark panel of judges, but audience input will anoint the winner. Buy tickets here: $15 online and $20 the night of the show. The event takes place at the National Press Club. Starting time: 8 p.m.

*The Irony As the House gears up to vote on funding for NPR, NPRNews releases its “Song of the Day.” That would be Jessica Lea Mayfield‘s “Strength In Vulnerability.”

*Gender Confusion on Capitol Hill: The Hill‘s Christina Wilkie reporting over Twitter that Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) referred to Under Sec. for Defense Michele Flournoy as a man. “Has @RosLehtinen ever met under secretary Flournoy, who she just quoted on the House floor? Because Flournoy is a Ms., not a Mr.” Wilkie wrote.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.